Walking Away While Pregnant: Dear Ex-Husband, I Don't Love You Anymore

Chapter 140: Chapter 140

It was evening by the time Fleur returned to Orchard Residence.

The moment she stepped inside, Mrs. Walsh came forward to greet her. "Miss, you’re back."

Changing her shoes, Fleur walked further into the house. "Mrs. Walsh, don’t worry about making dinner tonight. I’ll head over to the Bennett Residence to eat with Robin and Dylan."

"But Mr. Bennett and Master Robin went out of town," Mrs. Walsh said.

Fleur froze. She turned to face Mrs. Walsh, her brow furrowing. "When did they leave?"

"I think they left last night."

Fleur’s expression stiffened. It was one thing for Dylan to take Robin out of town without consulting her, but to have a servant pass along the message was an entirely different matter. Ever since she was discharged from the hospital, his attitude toward her had grown noticeably distant.

It seemed the events of that night had definitely altered his opinion of her. Panic began to creep into her heart, but she forced herself to maintain her perfect facade in front of the nanny.

"I see, thank you," Fleur said softly. "Just make whatever you like for dinner, Mrs. Walsh, and call me when it’s ready."

"Will do."

Fleur had just reached her bedroom when Anna called.

"We just finished our meeting," Anna announced. "President Winston’s idea is to ignore the online chatter for now. Don’t rush to defend yourself. Let the skepticism build up the hype. Then, during the show’s taping, you can reveal that you are Selin. A plot twist that massive will make for incredible television, and you’ll gain an army of fans overnight!"

It was a brilliant strategy, and Fleur was highly satisfied with it. "I’ll follow your lead, then," she replied gently.

Still, Anna sounded a bit uneasy and emphasized again, "Fleur, I put my neck on the line for you during this meeting. You can’t be lying to me."

Fleur’s lips curled into a cold smile, though her voice remained steady and reassuring. "Don’t worry. You’ve backed me up this much; I would never sabotage you."

"Good, that’s what I like to hear," Anna said, pausing briefly. "Filming is roughly scheduled for next week. Take this week to rest and get your energy up. Once the exact schedule and location are locked in, I’ll let you know."

"Got it."

Hanging up, the smile vanished from Fleur’s face. She stood by the window, watching the setting sun paint the horizon in brilliant crimson. The red glow washed over her gentle, elegant features. Catching her own reflection in the glass, she lightly touched her face.

"What difference does it make if it’s ’Selin’ or ’Red Bloom’? Either way, it’s going to be me," she murmured. "Fleur, I am going to make excellent use of this face of yours."

***

As night fell over the guesthouse, the lack of other guests prompted Mrs. Shaw to suggest a small bonfire and barbecue on the beach—a chance for the adults to unwind and the kids to have some fun.

The evening air was cooler than the daytime, sitting comfortably in the mid-teens, making it the perfect weather to sit by the ocean, grill some skewers, and have a drink. Everyone was on board.

With Mrs. Shaw leading the charge, some set up the area while others prepped the food. As a pregnant woman, Elise was assigned the easy task of keeping an eye on the two kids.

The atmosphere was lively and relaxed. Before long, the bonfire was roaring and the grill was fired up. Alexander and Josh resumed their roles as chefs, while Mrs. Shaw had his staff haul a cooler of beer out to the sand.

"Drink up tonight, boys and girls!" Mrs. Shaw laughed, cracking open a beer. "We have plenty of food and drink, so don’t be shy! Well, except for you three..." He gestured toward Elise. "A pregnant woman and two minors can’t drink. The rest of us are going all out!"

"Mrs. Shaw is too generous! Alright, bottoms up tonight!" Dona raised a bottle and clinked it against his. "I’ll start!"

As a veteran entertainment manager, Dona could certainly hold her liquor. She threw her head back and downed the bottle, drawing cheers and applause from everyone as the party kicked into high gear.

"Take it easy," Josh teased. "If you pass out tonight, I’m sneaking out to shoot the sunrise!"

"You brat! If you sneak off again, I’m complaining to your cousin. Mr. Hayes, your cousin is getting out of hand. Help me set him straight!"

Brushing sauce onto the skewers, Alexander laughed and played along. "Easy enough. If he doesn’t behave, I’ll tell my aunt to find him a wife to keep him in line."

"Hey, you can’t do that!" Dona interjected frantically. "Josh is an idol! No dating, and definitely no marriage!"

Alexander raised an eyebrow, amused. "Does being a celebrity require taking vows of celibacy?"

"Haha, Mr. Hayes doesn’t understand idol culture," a young female staff member laughed. "If Josh goes public with a relationship, hundreds of millions of girls will have their hearts broken! He can’t date publicly, but he can date secretly! Josh, you can date me in secret. Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. I won’t ruin your career!"

"You little rascal, trying to steal my cash cow!" Dona handed the girl a fresh bottle. "You have to get past me first!"

The girl, clear-headed and spirited, stood up and accepted the challenge. "Fine! For Josh, I’ll drink to that—"

Josh laughed out of sheer exasperation. "Dona, you better not lose. I have zero interest in dating right now..."

"Haha, if the prize is being Josh’s girlfriend, count me in too!" Mrs. Shaw chimed in, adding to the banter.

Amid the casual chatter and laughter, Elise sat at the camp table, one hand resting on her belly, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she watched everyone. The firelight danced vividly in her eyes. The moonlight bathed the beach, and the ocean breeze carried the savory scent of the barbecue.

Nearby, Lily and Robin were crouching on the sand. Unconcerned with beer or grilled meats, their entire world consisted of sandcastles and small seashells.

Dylan hadn’t returned yet. Elise figured that if the gathering wrapped up and he still hadn’t shown, she would have Robin give him a call. It was fine to watch the boy during the day, but he couldn’t just dump his son on them for the night.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Dylan appeared.

"Robin."

The man walked over, stopping by the edge of the bonfire’s glow. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, his suit jacket draped over his arm. Looking at his attire, he had clearly been handling business all day.

The lively, carefree atmosphere instantly quieted at his arrival.

Mrs. Shaw offered a polite greeting. "Mr. Bennett, you’re here to pick up Robin. Have you eaten? Want some barbecue?"

"Thank you, I’ve eaten," Dylan replied with a polite nod before turning his gaze to Elise. "Elise, thank you for your hard work today. I’m here to take Robin back."

Elise’s expression remained detached. "The ones you should thank are Alexander and Josh. The two men watched Robin for you the entire day."

Turning her attention downward, she gently patted Robin’s shoulder. "Robin, time to stop playing. Your dad is here."

Robin pouted. Reluctant to leave, he put down his toy shovel and stood up. Looking at Dylan, he called out obediently, "Dad..."

Dylan looked down at him and motioned with his hand. "Come here."

Robin desperately wanted to stay with Elise and Lily. He looked up at Elise, his eyes filled with a silent plea. "Godmom, please..."